University College London - Undergraduate Degree Admission Q&A for HKCEE and HKALE

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Ben

University College London provides a question-and-answer overview of undergraduate admission for applicants holding Hong Kong HKCEE and HKALE qualifications. It explains equivalency to UK GCSE and GCE A-Level, subject-dependent entry requirements, and that no entrance examination is required. It details English language expectations, recognized test alternatives, and varying proficiency thresholds by faculty. It also covers required programme tests for Medicine (BMAT) and Law (LNAT), international student quotas for Medicine, fee information sources, and holistic consideration beyond grades, plus International Baccalaureate and age eligibility guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Degree Programme Admissions (HKCEE & HKALE)

Qualification equivalence and entry requirements

Examinations, English proficiency tests, and additional required tests

Quotas, fees, and holistic assessment

International Baccalaureate and age eligibility

University College London | | Degree Programme | | --- | --- | | Does your University accept the HKCEE and HKALE for admission to your University? | Yes. HKCEE is considered equivalent to the UK GCSE qualification. HKALE is considered equivalent to GCE A-Level. | | What are the entry requirements for a student with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications entering your University? | Entry requirements vary and are dependent on the subject area applied for. Offers of admission for applicants with HKALE qualifications are usually made at the same level as GCE A-Level. Please see the online prospectus at [http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective](http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective)
students/undergraduate-degrees/index.shtml for specific degree programme grade requirements. | | Do students with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications have to sit an entrance examination to enter your University? | No. | | Is there a language proficiency test that students with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications wishing to enter your University must take? | Applicants from Hong Kong are expected to have a pass at grade C (grade B for Laws admissions) in HKCEE English Language (Syllabus B) or a pass at grade C (grade B for Laws admissions) in the HKALE Use of English. Alternatively, they will need to take one of the standard English Language tests recognised by UCL. | | Is there a standard on an international English scale that students with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications wishing to enter your University must reach? | English Language proficiency requirements vary between faculties. Please see [http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate](http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate)study/application-and-entry/english-language/acceptablequalifications/index.shtml for a complete list of acceptable English Language qualifications. | | Are there any other tests that students with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications wishing to enter your University must take? When must they be taken? | All applicants applying to study Medicine are required to sit the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), see [http://www.bmat.org.uk/](http://www.bmat.org.uk/) . The test is taken at the beginning of November for entry in the following September. All applicants applying for any Law programme are required to the sit the Laws National Admissions Test (LNAT), see [http://www.lnat.ac.uk/. The](http://www.lnat.ac.uk/. The) LNAT must be sat by 15th January of the admissions cycle in which the application is made. | | Is there an entry quota that applies to students with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications wishing to enter your University? | With the exception of A100 Medicine, there is no quota on overseas students. UCL is restricted by government quota to admitting 25 nonEU applicants per year to Medicine. | | Where can information be obtained on fees and other charges for students with HKCEE and HKALE qualifications wishing to enter your University? | Fees information is available on the UCL website at
[http://www.ucl.ac.uk/registry/current/fees/ug-fees/](http://www.ucl.ac.uk/registry/current/fees/ug-fees/) . | | Is consideration given to factors other than examination performance for overseas students wishing to apply for entry to your University? | UCL takes a holistic approach when considering applicants for admission. Examination performance and grade predications are important but the personal statement and the academic reference are also taken into account. Some subjects might also require samples of written work or a portfolio to be submitted. | | Does your University accept the International Baccalaureate? | Yes. Grade requirements depend on the degree programme applied for. IB requirements are listed in the prospectus at
[http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate](http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate)degrees/index.shtml. | | Does your University accept students if they are under the age of 18 at the time of commencing studies? | UCL prefers stude

FAQs

Does UCL accept HKCEE and HKALE for admission to the university?

Yes. HKCEE is considered equivalent to the UK GCSE qualification, and HKALE is considered equivalent to GCE A-Level.

What English language proficiency expectations apply for HKCEE and HKALE applicants?

Applicants from Hong Kong are expected to achieve a pass at grade C in HKCEE English Language (Syllabus B), or a pass at grade C in HKALE Use of English. Alternatively, they must take an English language test recognized by UCL.

Are there any entrance examinations or additional tests required for specific programmes?

No general entrance examination is required. However, Medicine applicants must take BMAT in early November for the following September entry, and Law applicants must take LNAT by 15 January of the admissions cycle.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Ben